been forced into the proper shape, they were placed, one inside the
other after the manner of dishes, and then all were firmly lashed
together, and left to dry. When the lashing should be removed, they
would hold to the form thus given them, and would be ready for fastening
to the kelson.

While Norman was occupied with the timbers the others were not idle.
Basil had cut down several of the largest and straightest birches, and
Lucien employed himself in carefully removing the bark and cleansing it
of nodules and other inequalities. The broad sheets were suspended by a
smoke fire, so as completely to dry up the sap, and render it tough and
elastic. Francois had his part to play, and that was to collect the
resinous gum which was distilled, in plenty from the trunks of the
epinette or spruce-trees. This gum is a species of pitch, and is one of
the most necessary materials in the making of a bark canoe. It is used
for "paying" the seams, as well as any cracks that may show themselves
in the bark itself; and without it, or some similar substance, it would
be difficult to make one of these little vessels watertight. But that
is not the only thing for which the epinette is valued in
canoe-building; far from it. This tree produces another indispensable
material; its long fibrous roots when split, form the twine-like threads
by which the pieces of bark are sewed to each other and fastened to the
timbers. These threads are as strong as the best cords of hemp, and are
known among the Indians by the name of "watap." In a country,
therefore, where hemp and flax cannot be readily procured, the "watap"
is of great value. You may say that deer are plenty, and that thongs of
buckskin would serve the same purpose. This, however, is not the case.
The buckskin would never do for such a use. The moment it becomes wet
it is liable to stretch, so that the seams would open and the canoe get
filled with water. The watap, wet or dry, does not yield, and has
therefore been found to be the best thing of all others for this
purpose. The only parts now wanted were the gunwale and the bottom.
The former was easily obtained. Two long poles, each twenty feet in
length, were bent somewhat like a pair of bows, and then placed with
their concave sides towards each other, and firmly lashed together at
the ends. This was the gunwale. The bottom was the most difficult part
of all. For that a solid plank was required, and they had no saw. T